Which of the following is a correct characterization of pests as defined by the KDA?

• A. It includes any animals, plant pathogens, or plants normally considered pests or declared pests by the KDA
• B. It includes only animals
• C. It excludes plant pathogens
• D. It refers only to weeds

Answer: (B)

Pests under Kentucky pesticide regulations are defined in a broad way: anything that is an animal, a plant pathogen, or a plant that is normally considered a pest or that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture declares to be a pest. This broad scope ensures that products and practices used to control any of these organisms fall under pesticide laws. So the correct characterization is that pests include any animals, plant pathogens, or plants normally considered pests or declared pests by the KDA. The other options are too narrow or incomplete: limiting pests to animals misses pathogens and plants; excluding plant pathogens ignores a major regulated category; and referring only to weeds leaves out animals and pathogens.